21 July 2010

Fallen behind yet again, so a quick flick through yesterday and firstly we had confirmation of breeding Tufted Duck with 3 chicks on the main lake, this was the first confirmed breeding since 2006, Canada Geese totalled 267 which included the CanadaxGreylag hybrid, Mute Swans still remain at 34, the Shoveler was on the boating lake, at least 40+ Swifts were around the main lake, 14 Great Crested Grebes with the usual pairs, a Grey Heron on the boating lake, as well as the Tufted Duck chicks there were 56 others on the main lake and 1 on the boating lake, a single Common Sandpiper was on the beach area, 2 Pochard on the main lake.
A Coal Tit was heard by the top pool, 2 Grey Wagtails on the beach area, 4 Blackcaps were around the park also 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Reed Warblers, a Stock Dove on the old gas works, at least 10 Chiffchaffs most of which were on the gas works and sewage works, also 5 Whitethroats on the sewage works and a Sparrowhawk flew across the playing field.

Total species seen 43.

Mid morning and Jeff Jones recorded a Common Tern briefly on the main lake.

Today, Nick Smith had a great morning with a record of 13 Crossbills, he picked them up twice in flight, first time flying over the main lake towards Tunstall/Burslem and not long after flying back over towards the Bradwell Wood area, there are only a handful of records of this bird for Westport and it was a Westport tick for Nick, also this morning, 2 Shoveler, 4 Pochard, 51 Tufted Duck but no sign of the young from yesterday.
I went down later afternoon/early evening, on the model boating lake 10 juvenile Black-headed Gulls, the Great Crested Grebes were present as usual, a few Sand Martins were on the main lake with Swifts and Swallows, Tufted Ducks as per Nick's count but only saw 2 Pochard, 3-4 Reed Warblers on the top pool, while at Westport I received a text from Paul (Shenton?) telling me he'd had 8 Linnets on the gas works I went on for a look but had no luck, there were loads of Goldfinches as usual and Chiffchaffs and a Black-headed Gull on the small pool, a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over.